Chapter 59：Not a great first impression (1)

*Eight years back*

It was an important presentation day for all the students in Xinyi's class. And right now, she was freaking out in the bathroom, sweating hard.

She was trembling by the mere thought of going up to the podium and facing her classmates. All sorts of negative thoughts invaded her mind.

I will definitely forget something.

What if I stutter too much?

What if everyone laughs at me?

"C-calm down. Calm down. Please calm down, Xinyi. It's fine. It's fine. Just look at the wall and do it. Don't see anybody else."

But no matter what, her heart refused to stop drumming in her chest.

Xinyi finally left the washroom when there were only five minutes left before it began, and she had no choice but to leave.

"Hey, Xinyi!"

She jolted and gasped. As she looked back, she was relieved to see that figure. "Zizi, it's you…"

Zizi grinned. "Of course, it's me. What happened to you? You look like a ghost."

Xinyi clasped her hands. "I am really nervous about the presentation. I-I cannot face so many people…"

Zizi rolled her eyes. "It's going to be fine. You always make such awesome presentations."

"Presenting them is a different thing."

"You worry too much. Everything will be fine."

The door opened and Shuang entered, lazily yawning. She muttered. "Damn this stupid presentation. I had to ruin my sleep to wake up early."

Zizi waved her hand. "Shuang! You look still as sleepy as ever. Played games all night?" she laughed.

She simply shrugged. She took the corner seat in the class and collapsed on the desk, sleeping again.

Zizi's mouth twitched. "There she goes in her dreamland again."

Xinyi pursed her lips. "But she doesn't have to worry about stage fright. She is always so confident…"

"Zizi."

They heard Zhiyuan calling out to her.

She brightened. "Bro!"

Xinyi's heart skipped a beat. Just like always, he seemed gentle and handsome with that warm smile on his face.

Zhiyuan…

She lowered her gaze, and her cheeks turned slightly red.

He smiled and ruffled her head. "I just came here to wish you good luck."

"Hehe. I will be fine, bro. But there is someone else who needs your best wishes. Just look at Xinyi. She is freaking out as if she is going on a war."

Xinyi jolted in her seat. She shut her eyes in embarrassment.

Ahhh...I don't want Zhiyuan to see me like this…

She felt a little ashamed of herself.

Zhiyuan shifted his gaze at her. He walked up to her and tapped her shoulder.

"Zh-Zhiyuan…That I am just…"

Zhiyuan smiled. "All the best. You will be great. I know it."

His soothing voice echoed in her ears, and her thudding heart slowly calmed down.

He touched his chin. "But if you still feel afraid, I have a trick."

Xinyi asked, "Trick? What is it?"

He chuckled. "If you feel nervous again, then just take a breath and think of the person most important to you. Imagine that person smiling at you. It will be like magic. Trust me, you won't be afraid anymore."

Xinyi stared at him in a daze.

My most important person…

"En…"

She snapped out of her daze. A smile lit her lips. "I will remember this."

Zhiyuan smiled. "Great." He looked at Zizi. "Grandpa would be coming here any moment. It seems like it's starting. I will leave."

Xinyi stared at his tall figure as he left. Whenever she met Zhiyuan, she would always feel as if she was floating in the air.

As the professor entered, the presentations quickly started in order. When it was Xinyi's turn, the fear and anxiousness returned. She felt like giving an excuse and running away from this dreadful task.

Her legs trembled as she walked. When she stepped up the podium, her foot tripped and she almost stumbled in front. She gasped as her shoulder hit the board besides her.

"Hahahaha." The other classmates burst into laughter.

"That was funny."

"Xinyi looks like a scaredy-cat."

"Come on, nowadays even kids don't get afraid to speak up in a crowd and she is nineteen."

"Is she worse than a kid?" Somebody snickered.

The chuckles and taunts of her classmates turned her pale. This was the thing she hated the most. She screwed up before she could even start and now everyone was making fun of her.

She froze on her spot, and tears threatened to trickle down her eyes. She felt horribly embarrassed.

Zizi glared at everyone.

"All of you! Stop laughing. It's not funny! It was just an accident. It can happen with anyone."

They toned down a bit because Zizi spoke and nobody wanted to go against Zhiyuan's sister. But in whispers, they were still mocking Xinyi. Suddenly, they heard a loud bang from the back.

Everybody jolted and looked at the corner from where the sound came. Shuang yawned as she woke up and sleepily looked at everyone in disdain.

"Laugh once again and I will beat the crap out of you all. Don't dare ruin my precious sleep with your useless chatter," she threatened.

Silence.

Normally, they would have caused a ruckus for the interference, but Shuang was known for her violent and yakuza-like tendencies. If anybody pissed her off, she wouldn't hesitate to break their bones. Ah Cy and Shuang were the most fearsome women in the college not to be messed with.

On top of that, An Guoting was her father who was rich and held quite an influence.

Shuang was satisfied to see the look on their faces. She went back to lay her head down.

The professor couldn't say anything about her behavior and cleared his throat. "Silence, everyone. Xinyi, you may begin."

Xinyi thankfully looked at Zizi and Shuang. Even if it looked like Shuang said it out of her own selfishness, she knew she did it to stop them from insulting her.

As Xinyi started the presentation, she could see the disdain in everyone's eyes. Some of them purposely but silently chuckled when her gaze shifted at them, making her freeze. They made mocking expressions.

Her mind went blank and she forgot the next part. Panic set in her heart. Her mouth opened and closed many times but she couldn't speak anything.

And from the classroom's back entrance that was open, a certain someone was silently looking at her pitiful state with a smirk on his face.

Han Huizhong snorted at her in disdain as he thought, 'Such a weak and fearful woman. She cannot even give a measly presentation. Pathetic.'